Wrench



Nov. 27, 1945. A B R 2,389,933

WRENCH Filed Dec. 50, 194; 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. .fln t 072; R0 296/7" ATTDRNEYS Nov. 27, 19.45. A, ma 2,389,933

WRENCH Filed Dec. 30, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. fln. to n R 0be?" ATTEI RNEYS Patented Nov. 27, 1945 WRENCH Anton 'Rober, Milwaukee,Wis.

Application December 30, 1942, Serial No.4lg'6 10 8 Claims.

My invention relates to wrenches, and has among its objects andadvantages the provis'ionoi animproved adjustable wrench which is easyto manipulate and in which novel means are incorporated for retaining anadjustment against accidental shifting.

i In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a partiallong-itudinal sectional view of a wrench inaccordance with my invention.

Figure-Bis asimilarviewbut in association with a slightly different formof jaw structure.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of a sleeve handle.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view .of an internal adjustingsleeve.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 or Figurel.

figure '6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure -2.

Figure? is a view of the jaw end of the wrench.

FigureB is a partial longitudinal sectional View of amodifled form ofWrench structure.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 9-8 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a sectional view along the line 16-46 of'Figure 8.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, 'I'makeuse of two jaw shanks .26 and2'2, whichparts are respectively providedwith jaws 24' and .26 projecting. laterally of the longitudinal axis ofthe handle structure 23.. The structures of Figures 1 and 2 areidentical with the exception that. the jaws24 and 26. in Figure l areprovided with gripping teeth 39, while the I same jaws in Figure 2 areprovided with parallel nut clamping faces 32.

The shank part'zfl includes a cylindrical portion 34 lying wholly insidea sleeve handle 36. Upon the cylindrical part 34 is mounted a sleeve 38which fits loosely inside the handle 36 and is restrained from relativelongitudinal movement on the part 34 by a pin 40 lying in a bore 42 inthe part 34 and projecting into a circumferential groove 44 in the innerface. of the end flange 46 on the sleeve 38.

The opposite end of the sleeve 38 is provided with teeth 48 which areengageable by similar teeth 56 on a ring 52 fitting inside the handle 36and fixed thereto by pins 54.

A collar 56 is fixed to the part 34 and constitutes an abutment for acompression spring 58 abutting a flange 66 pinned at 62 to the handle36. This flange is provided with teeth 64 engageable by teeth 66 on aflange 68 attached to the part 34. Normal-1y the spring 38 urges thepart 3-4 forwardly to maintain engagement between the teeth -64 and 66,but the teeth may be disengaged by advancing the sleeve 38 jawwar-drelatively to the part 34.

The part 34 is provided with a longitudinal groove T0 Within which isslidably mounted "the part 22. The groove 16 is provided with branchgrooves 12 for the reception of flanges 14 formed on the part 22 so thatthe part 22 may be moved longitudinally of the part 26 but is restrainedfrom lateral shifting.

The part 22 is provided with a rack 16 having meshing engagement withscrew teeth 18 inside the sleeve 38. The jaw 24 is somewhat thicker thanthe jaw 26, and is grooved at 88 so that a portion of the jaw '26 maymove freely therein.

In operation, the handle 36 may turn on the part 28. To adjust the jaw26 relatively to the jaw 24, the handle 36 is shifted longitudinally ofthe part 26 to bring the teeth 50 into engagement with the teeth 48,after which the handle is rotated to impart rotary motion to the sleeve38 and relatively to the part 34, so that the meshing engagement betweenthe rack 16 and the teeth 88 impart longitudinal movement to the part 22for adjusting the jaws 24 and 26 to the desired spacing. When the handle36 is released, the spring 58 shifts the handle to the position ofFigure 1, at which time the teeth 84 are brought into meshing engagementwith the teeth 66 so that the handle 36 is latched to the part 33 and isrestrained from relative rotary movement.

In Figure 8, the jaw 62 parallels the jaw 84, the two jaws being similarto the jaws 24 and 26 of Figure 2 with the exception that the jaw 82 isof considerably greater length and is provided with an adjustable jawelement 86. The element 86 has a rib 88 slidable in a groove 98extending longitudinally of the jaw 82. This rib is connected with' aflexible member 92 slidably guided in a groove 94 for adjusting theelement 86 longitudinally of the jaw. The rib 88 lies flush with the nutengaging face 96 of the jaw 82, and the element 86, the jaw 82 and thejaw 84 are pro vided with nut engaging faces 98 so arranged as to haveclamping engagement with nut and bolt heads of hexagonal contour. Whilethe jaw 84 is adjustable toward and away from the jaw 82, means areprovided for adjusting the element 86 longitudinally of the jaw 82 incorresponding amounts, so that the faces 98 will always have engagementwith the faces of nut and bolt heads of different sizes. The element 86is shifted longitudinally of the jaw 82 as a function of relativeadjustment between the jaws 82 and 84.

Externally the shanks I and I02 respectively connected with the jaws 82and 84 are identical with the parts 20 and 22. The shank I02 is guidedfor movement longitudinally of the shank I00 in the same manner as thepart 22, but the rib I04 is provided with rack teeth I06 meshing with apinion I08 formed on a shaft I I0 rotatably mounted in a transverse boreH2 in the shank I00. The flexible member 02 has a rack II4 fixed theretoand engaging the pinion I08. The shaft H0 is restrained from endwisemovement through its engagement with the sleeve II6 corresponding to thesleeve 38.

The handle structure H8 is identical with that illustrated in Figures 1and 2, both externally and internally. The difference in the wrenchstructure of Figure 8 resides in the fact that longitudinal movementimparted to the shank I02 imparts rotation to the pinion I08 to move theflexible member 92 a distance corresponding to the movement of the rackteeth I06. When the jaw 84 is moved away from the jaw 82 to accommodatea nut of larger dimensions, the element 80 is moved outwardlylongitudinally of the jaw 82 a distance corresponding to the shift ofthe jaw 84 so that the faces 98 will have accurate fitting engagementwith the nut or bolt head.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A wrench comprising a first shank havin a first jaw attached thereto,a second shank slidable longitudinally of said first shank and having asecond jaw, a sleeve handle mounted for relative rotary and longitudinalmovement on said first and second shanks, coacting but separable latchmeans on said first shank and said handle to normally restrain thelatter from relative rotation on said first and second shanks, a screwsleeve rotatably mounted on said first and second shanks inside saidhandle, an operating connection between said screw sleeve and saidsecond shank to adjust the latter longitudinally of the first shankthrough rotation of said handle, elements carried by the handle and saidscrew sleeve for engagement with each other through movement of saidhandle longitudinally of said first and second shanks to connect thescrew sleeve to adopt the screw sleeve to be rotated by the handlerelatively to the first and second shanks, and resilient meansyieldingly holding said handle in a position engaging said latch meanssaid element on said handle and screw sleeve being in spacedrelationship to each other when the latch means on the handle and firstshank are thus engaged.

2. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said first and secondshanks are provided with coacting formations restraining either fromrotation relatively to the other.

3. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said first shank isprovided with a longitudinal groove and in which said second shank isprovided with a ribbed like formation slidably guided in said groove.

4. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said operating connectioncomprises a rack fixed to said second shank and engaging said screwsleeve.

5. The invention described in claim'l wherein said latch means compriseengageable toothed members carried respectively by said first shank andhandle.

6. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said first jaw is providedwith a jaw element movable longitudinally thereon, said jaw element andsaid first and second jaws having coacting clamp faces, and a secondoperating connection between said jaw element and said first operatingconnection for shifting said jaw element relatively to the first jawdistances corresponding to the relative shift of said first and secondjaws.

'7. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said first jaw isprovided with a jaw element movable longitudinally thereon, said jawelement and said first and second jaws having coacting clamp faces, anda second perating connection between said jaw element and said firstoperating connection for shifting said jaw element relatively to thefirst jaw distances corresponding to the relative shift of said firstand second jaws, said second operating connection including a flexiblemember attached to said jaw element and slidably guided in a groove insaid first jaw and said first shank.

8. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said operating connectioncomprises a rack on said second shank engaging said screw sleeve, a jawelement slidably mounted on said first jaw, a second rack on said secondshank, a third rack having an operating connection with said jawelement, and a pinion meshing with said second and third racks to shiftsaid jaw element relatively to said first jaw when said second jaw isshifted relatively to said first jaw.

ANTON ROBER.

